MPOA system and its shortcut communication control method, and shortcut communication control program

ABSTRACT

An MPOA system for establishing communication by using layer 3 protocol on an ATM network, in which data about the layer 3 address of a source of data packets is added to an address resolution request packet which is transmitted in order to establish a shortcut VCC toward a destination of the data packets in each communication node and hence transmitted to the destination, and in the case of accepting the address resolution request packets to be transmitted in order to establish the respective shortcut VCCs toward the destination of the data packets, as for the same communication, from a plurality of the communication nodes, a shortcut VCC is established only between the destination and the communication node remotest from the destination on the network.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/160,028, filed Jun. 4, 2002, which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUNDS OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a communication by an MPOA(Multi-Protocol Over ATM) system, and more particularly to an MPOAsystem capable of avoiding Domino Effect in a shortcut communication andits shortcut communication control method, and a shortcut communicationcontrol program.

2. Description of the Related Art

The conventional Multi-Protocol Over ATM (hereinafter, referred to asMPOA) system is a communication system using existing layer 3 (networklayer) protocols such as Internet Protocol (hereinafter, referred to asIP), and Internetwork Packet Exchange (hereinafter, referred to as IPX)on asynchronous transfer mode (hereinafter, referred to as ATM)networks, and the specifications are defined by the ATM Forum's documentAF-MPOA-0087.000.

The feature of the MPOA system is that, when a destination node (target)is in a subnet different from that of a source node of data packets asviewed from the source node, communication is performed by establishinga shortcut Virtual Channel Connection (hereinafter, referred to as VCC)toward the target in an ATM network, without passing through routers, inthe case of detecting a data flow (flow of continuous data packets)larger than a predetermined value.

The operation of the conventional MPOA system will be described withreference to FIG. 13. Although ATM switches forming the ATM network arenot illustrated in FIG. 13, they are assumed to be placed at properpositions to establish a VCC (including a shortcut VCC) connecting eachhost and router. As a matter of convenience, IP is used as the layer 3protocol in the following description, but the protocol is not limitedto IP.

In FIG. 13, it is assumed that a host 610 starts to transmit IP packetsto a host 650 continuously. The IP packets are forwarded through arouter 620, a router 630, and a router 640, toward the host 650. At thistime, an MPC 611 that is an MPOA client (hereinafter, referred to asMPC) counts the transmitted IP packets. When the above counted valuebecomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value in a fixed time(for example, equal to or larger than ten packets in one second), it isjudged as “There is a flow”. This is called as flow detection.

The MPC 611 which has detected the flow starts a shortcut communicationtoward the host 650. In order to start a shortcut communication, it isnecessary to establish a shortcut VCC toward the host 650. In order toestablish the shortcut VCC, it is necessary to know the ATM address ofthe host 650. Such an operation that an MPC desiring a shortcutcommunication obtains the ATM address of a host of a shortcutdestination is called as “address resolution”. In other words, the MPC611 having detected a flow starts the address resolution of the host 650in order to start a shortcut communication toward the host 650.

The MPC 611 creates an MPOA address resolution request packet whichincludes the IP address of the host 650 as the target, and transmits itto an MPOA server (hereinafter, referred to as MPS), that is, an MPS622.

The MPS 622 transmits the MPOA address resolution request packet to anMPS 632 of a router 630 of the next hop toward the target, according tothe IP routing table. An MPS like the MPS 622 is called as an ingressMPS. The MPOA address resolution request packet is forwarded one afteranother toward the target, according to the IP routing table.

An MPS 642 takes out the necessary information from the MPOA addressresolution request packet, to create an MPOA cache imposition requestpacket, and transmits it to an MPC 651 of the target host 650. This isto notify the MPC 651 of Media Access Control (hereinafter, referred toas MAC) header information to be added to the IP packets, when IPpackets destined to the host 650 are transmitted from the MPC 511through a shortcut communication. In the above MAC header information,the MAC address of the host 650 is included as DA (Destination Address),and the MAC address of the router 640 is included as SA (SourceAddress).

The MPC 651 returns an MPOA cache imposition reply packet to the MPS642. In the above MPOA cache imposition reply packet, an ATM address foraccepting the establishment of a shortcut VCC by the MPC 651 isincluded.

The MPS 642 takes out the necessary information from the MPOA cacheimposition reply packet, to create an MPOA address resolution replypacket, and returns it to the MPS 622 that is the ingress MPS. An MPSlike the MPS 642 is called as an egress MPS. The MPOA address resolutionreply packet is forwarded one after another, toward the ingress MPS,according to the IP routing table.

When the MPS 622 receives the MPOA address resolution reply packet, itreturns the same packet to the MPC 611. Thus, the MPS 611 can obtain theATM address for establishing a shortcut VCC toward the host 650. TheMPOA address resolution request/reply packets and the MPOA cacheimposition request/reply packets may be collectively called as MPOApackets.

The MPC 611 establishes a shortcut VCC toward the host 650 by using theabove ATM address, and thereafter the IP packets destined to the host650 are transferred to the shortcut VCC. The MPC 651 receives the IPpackets through the shortcut VCC, adds the MAC header previouslynotified by the MPS 642 through the MPOA cache imposition request packetto the above IP packets, so to create MAC frames. Thus created MACframes are seemed as if they were transmitted from the router 640 to thehost 650.

Thereby, the upper-layer protocol processing of the host 650 may beperformed in the same way as in the case where the MPOA system is notintroduced.

The above-mentioned conventional MPOA system has a problem of causingDomino Effect.

Hereinafter, the Domino Effect will be described. In FIG. 14, it isassumed that a host 710 starts to transmit IP packets toward a host 750continuously. The IP packets are forwarded through a router 720, arouter 730, and a router 740, to the host 750. An MPC 711 which hasdetected a flow toward the host 750 transmits an MPOA address resolutionrequest packet to an MPS 722 in order to start a shortcut communicationtoward the host 750.

Here, the MPC 711 counts the flow, and simultaneously an MPC 721 of therouter 720 and an MPC 731 of the router 730 count the flow. Accordingly,the MPC 721 and the MPC 731 detect the flow toward the host 750, inparallel with the MPC 711. Therefore, the MPC 721 and the MPC 731transmit the MPOA address resolution request packets to the MPS 732 andan MPS 742 respectively, in order to start a shortcut communicationtoward the host 750. This is called as the Domino Effect in the MPOAsystem.

When the Domino Effect occurs, a redundant shortcut VCC is established.This is because both of “the ATM address of a source MPC” in therespective MPOA address resolution request packets from the MPC 721 andthe MPC 731 are different from that of the MPC 711, the MPS 742 that isthe egress MPS regards them as different flows, and the MPS 742processes the respective MPOA address resolution request packets fromthe MPC 721 and the MPC 731 in the same way as it processes the MPOAaddress resolution request packet from the MPC 711.

FIG. 15 shows the state where redundant shortcut VCCs have beenestablished as a result of occurrence of the Domino Effect. In thisexample, although shortcut VCCs are established respectively from therouter 720 and the router 730 toward the host 750, these shortcut VCCswill be never used. This is because the IP packets from the host 710 tothe host 750 are all transferred on the shortcut VCC toward the host750, in the host 710.

As the conventional technique for avoiding the Domino Effect, there is amethod in which, in each router, shortcut processing is not performed ona data flow coming from an ATM network and going to an ATM networkagain. This technique has been described by the specifications of NHRP(RFC2332, IETF) used in the MPOA system as the address resolutionprotocol.

This conventional technique, however, has a problem that even a flownaturally to be targeted for a shortcut is excluded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first object of the present invention is, in order to solve the aboveproblem of the conventional technique, to provide an MPOA system capableof properly avoiding the Domino Effect and its shortcut communicationcontrol method and a shortcut communication control program, withoutexcluding even a flow naturally to be targeted for a shortcut from theobject for a shortcut.

In order to solve the above problem of the conventional technique, asecond object of the present invention is to provide an MPOA systemcapable of properly avoiding the Domino Effect and its shortcutcommunication control method and a shortcut communication controlprogram, in which the MPOA client (MPC) transmits the source layer 3address of a data packet targeted for a shortcut, which is included inan extension portion of an MPOA address resolution request packet, to anMPS and the MPOA server (MPS) controls to make valid only an addressresolution request from the remotest MPC on a network and make invalidthe address resolution requests from the other MPCs, according to therespective information of “destination layer 3 address”, “source layer 3address”, and “hop count value” of the MPOA address resolution requestpacket.

According to the first aspect of the invention, an MPOA system forestablishing communication by using layer 3 protocol on an ATM network,in which

data about layer 3 address of a source of data packets is added to anaddress resolution request packet which is transmitted in order toestablish a shortcut VCC toward a destination of the data packets ineach communication node and hence transmitted to the destination, and

in the case of accepting the address resolution request packets to betransmitted in order to establish the respective shortcut VCCs towardthe destination of the data packets, as for the same communication, froma plurality of the communication nodes, the shortcut VCC is establishedonly between the destination and the communication node remotest fromthe destination on the network.

In the preferred construction, whether the address resolution requestpackets accepted from the respective communication nodes are as for thesame communication or not is determined according to respectiveinformation of the source layer 3 address and the destination layer 3address indicated in the respective address resolution request packets.

In another preferred construction, in the case of accepting the addressresolution request packets as for the same communication from aplurality of the respective communication nodes, the communication noderemotest from the destination on the network is selected, according tothe information of hop count values indicated in the address resolutionrequest packets and the shortcut VCC is established only between theselected communication node and the destination.

In another preferred construction, MPOA clients of the respectivecommunication nodes relaying communication

add the information of the source layer 3 address of the data packets tothe address resolution request packet corresponding to the data packetstargeted for a shortcut and transmit the address resolution requestpacket to an MPOA server of the next hop toward the destination node,while

the MPOA servers of the respective communication nodes relayingcommunication

accept the address resolution request packets transmitted from therespective MPOA clients and when this MPOA server is an egress MPOAserver that is the MPOA server on the communication node directlyconnecting with the destination node, the same MPOA server detects theaddress resolution request packets transmitted as for the samecommunication from a plurality of the MPOA clients, according to theinformation of the source layer 3 address and the destination layer 3address indicated in the respective address resolution request packets,and

in the case of accepting the address resolution request packets as forthe same communication from a plurality of the MPOA clients, the sameMPOA server detects the address resolution request from the MPOA clientremotest from the destination on the network, according to theinformation of the hop count values indicated in the address resolutionrequest packets and controls to make valid only the detected addressresolution request.

In another preferred construction, the information of the source layer 3address of the data packets is added to the address resolution requestpacket to be transmitted in order to establish a shortcut VCC of thedata packets, by using a vendor private extension of an MPOA packet.

In another preferred construction, a source layer 3 address extension isdefined as an extension portion of the MPOA packet, in the addressresolution request packet to be transmitted in order to establish ashortcut VCC of the data packets and the information of the source layer3 address of the data packets is added to the address resolution requestpacket by using the source layer 3 address extension.

According to the second aspect of the invention, a communication devicefor establishing MPOA communication, in which

data about layer 3 address of a source of data packets is added to anaddress resolution request packet which is transmitted in order toestablish a shortcut VCC toward a destination of the data packets andhence transmitted to the destination, and

in the case of accepting the address resolution request packets to betransmitted in order to establish the respective shortcut VCCs towardthe destination of the data packets, as for the same communication, froma plurality of the communication nodes, the shortcut VCC is establishedonly between the destination and the communication node remotest fromthe destination on the network.

In the preferred construction, whether the address resolution requestpackets accepted from the respective communication nodes are as for thesame communication or not is determined according to the respectiveinformation of the source layer 3 address and the destination layer 3address indicated in the respective address resolution request packets.

In another preferred construction, in the case of accepting the addressresolution request packets as for the same communication from aplurality of the respective communication nodes, the communication noderemotest from the destination on the network is selected, according tothe information of hop count values indicated in the address resolutionrequest packets and the shortcut VCC is established only between theselected communication node and the destination.

In another preferred construction, the communication device comprisesMPOA clients and MPOA servers, in which

the MPOA clients

add the information of the source layer 3 address of the data packets tothe address resolution request packet corresponding to the data packetstargeted for a shortcut and transmit the address resolution requestpacket to an MPOA server of the next hop toward the destination node,while

the MPOA servers

accept the address resolution request packet transmitted from therespective MPOA clients and when this MPOA server is an egress MPOAserver that is the MPOA server on the communication node directlyconnecting with the destination node, the same MPOA server detects theaddress resolution request packets transmitted as for the samecommunication from a plurality of the MPOA clients, according to theinformation of the source layer 3 address and the destination layer 3address indicated in the respective address resolution request packets,and

in the case of accepting the address resolution request packets as forthe same communication from a plurality of the MPOA clients, the sameMPOA server detects the address resolution request from the MPOA clientremotest from the destination on the network, according to theinformation of the hop count values indicated in the address resolutionrequest packets and controls to make valid only the detected addressresolution request.

In another preferred construction, the information of the source layer 3address of the data packets is added to the address resolution requestpacket to be transmitted in order to establish a shortcut VCC of thedata packets, by using a vendor private extension of an MPOA packet.

In another preferred construction, a source layer 3 address extension isdefined as an extension portion of the MPOA packet, in the addressresolution request packet to be transmitted in order to establish ashortcut VCC of the data packets and the information of the source layer3 address of the data packets is added to the address resolution requestpacket by using the source layer 3 address extension.

According to the third aspect of the invention, a shortcut communicationcontrol method of MPOA communication, comprising the following steps of

adding data about layer 3 address of a source of data packets to anaddress resolution request packet which is transmitted in order toestablish a shortcut VCC toward a destination of the data packets andhence transmitting the packet to the destination; and

establishing a shortcut VCC only between the destination and thecommunication node remotest from the destination on the network, in thecase of accepting the address resolution request packets to betransmitted in order to establish the respective shortcut VCCs towardthe destination of the data packets, as for the same communication, froma plurality of the communication nodes.

In the preferred construction, the shortcut communication control methodcomprises

a step of accepting the address resolution request packets from therespective communication nodes and determining whether the addressresolution request packets are as for the same communication or not,according to the respective information of the source layer 3 addressand the destination layer 3 address indicated in the respective addressresolution request packets.

In another preferred construction, the shortcut communication controlmethod comprises

a step of selecting the communication node remotest from the destinationon the network, according to the information of hop count valuesindicated in the address resolution request packets, in the case ofaccepting the address resolution request packets as for the samecommunication from a plurality of the respective communication nodes,and establishing the shortcut VCC only between the selectedcommunication node and the destination.

In another preferred construction, the shortcut communication controlmethod comprises

in an MPOA client of each communication node relaying communication,

a step of adding the information of the source layer 3 address of thedata packets to the address resolution request packet corresponding tothe data packets targeted for a shortcut and transmitting the addressresolution packet to an MPOA server of the next hop toward thedestination node; while

in the MPOA server of each communication node relaying communication,

a step of accepting the address resolution request packets transmittedfrom the respective MPOA clients, and a step of detecting the addressresolution request packets transmitted as for the same communicationfrom a plurality of the MPOA clients, according to the respectiveinformation of the source layer 3 address and the destination layer 3address indicated in the respective address resolution request packets,when this MPOA server is an egress MPOA server that is the MPOA serveron the communication node directly connecting with the destination node;and

a step of detecting the address resolution request from the MPOA clientremotest from the destination on the network, according to theinformation of the hop count values indicated in the address resolutionrequest packets and controlling to make valid only the detected addressresolution request, in the case of accepting the address resolutionrequest packets as for the same communication from a plurality of theMPOA clients.

In another preferred construction, the shortcut communication controlmethod comprises a step of adding the information of the source layer 3address of the data packets to the address resolution request packet tobe transmitted in order to establish a shortcut VCC of the data packets,by using a vendor private extension of an MPOA packet.

In another preferred construction, the shortcut communication controlmethod comprises a step of defining a source layer 3 address extensionas an extension portion of the MPOA packet, in the address resolutionrequest packet to be transmitted in order to establish a shortcut VCC ofthe data packets and adding the information of the source layer 3address of the data packets to the address resolution request packet byusing the source layer 3 address extension.

According to another aspect of the invention, a shortcut communicationcontrol program for controlling MPOA shortcut communication bycontrolling a computer, having the following functions of

adding data about layer 3 address of a source of data packets to anaddress resolution request packet which is transmitted in order toestablish a shortcut VCC toward a destination of the data packets andhence transmitting the packet to the destination, and

establishing a shortcut VCC only between the destination and thecommunication node remotest from the destination on the network, in thecase of accepting the address resolution request packets to betransmitted in order to establish the respective shortcut VCCs towardthe destination of the data packets, as for the same communication, froma plurality of the communication nodes.

In the preferred construction, the shortcut communication controlprogram comprises

a function of accepting the address resolution request packets from therespective communication nodes and determining whether the addressresolution request packets are as for the same communication or not,according to the respective information of the source layer 3 addressand the destination layer 3 address indicated in the respective addressresolution request packets.

In another preferred construction, the shortcut communication controlprogram comprises a function of selecting the communication noderemotest from the destination on the network, according to theinformation of hop count values indicated in the address resolutionrequest packets, in the case of accepting the address resolution requestpackets as for the same communication from a plurality of the respectivecommunication nodes, and establishing the shortcut VCC only between theselected communication node and the destination.

In another preferred construction, the shortcut communication controlprogram comprises

in an MPOA client of each communication node relaying communication,

a function of adding the information of the source layer 3 address ofthe data packets to the address resolution request packet correspondingto the data packets targeted for a shortcut and transmitting the addressresolution packet to an MPOA server of the next hop toward thedestination node, while

in the MPOA server of each communication node relaying communication,

a function of accepting the address resolution request packetstransmitted from the respective MPOA clients, and a function ofdetecting the address resolution request packets transmitted as for thesame communication from a plurality of the MPOA clients, according tothe respective information of the source layer 3 address and thedestination layer 3 address indicated in the respective addressresolution request packets, when this MPOA server is an egress MPOAserver that is the MPOA server on the communication node directlyconnecting with the destination node, and

a function of detecting the address resolution request from the MPOAclient remotest from the destination on the network, according to theinformation of the hop count values indicated in the address resolutionrequest packets and controlling to make valid only the detected addressresolution request, in the case of accepting the address resolutionrequest packets as for the same communication from a plurality of theMPOA clients.

In another preferred construction, the shortcut communication controlprogram comprises

a function of adding the information of the source layer 3 address ofthe data packets to the address resolution request packet to betransmitted in order to establish a shortcut VCC of the data packets, byusing a vendor private extension of an MPOA packet.

In another preferred construction, the shortcut communication controlprogram comprises a function of defining a source layer 3 addressextension as an extension portion of the MPOA packet, in the addressresolution request packet to be transmitted in order to establish ashortcut VCC of the data packets and adding the information of thesource layer 3 address of the data packets to the address resolutionrequest packet by using the source layer 3 address extension.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome clear from the detailed description given herebelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood more fully from the detaileddescription given herebelow and from the accompanying drawings of thepreferred embodiment of the invention, which, however, should not betaken to be limitative to the invention, but are for explanation andunderstanding only.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of an MPOA client (MPC)according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of an MPOA server (MPS)according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a format of MPOA packet extensionfor preserving the source IP address of the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for use in describing the operation of the MPOAclient (MPC) according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for use in describing the operation of the MPOAserver (MPS) according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view for use in describing a first example of the concreteoperation of an MPOA system according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a view for use in describing the first example of the concreteoperation of the MPOA system according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a view for use in describing a second example of the concreteoperation of the MPOA system according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 is a view for use in describing the second example of theconcrete operation of the MPOA system according to the first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a view for use in describing a third example of the concreteoperation of the MPOA system according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a view for use in describing the third example of theconcrete operation of the MPOA system according to the first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a format in which “source layer3 address extension” is newly defined as a normal extension portion ofthe MPOA in order to add the source IP address to the MPOA addressresolution request packet, according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 13 is a view for use in describing the operation of a conventionalMPOA system;

FIG. 14 is a view for use in describing the Domino Effect of theconventional MPOA system;

FIG. 15 is a view for use in describing the Domino Effect of theconventional MPOA system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be discussedhereinafter in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Inthe following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Itwill be obvious, however, to those skilled in the art that the presentinvention may be practiced without these specific details. In otherinstance, well-known structures are not shown in detail in order tounnecessary obscure the present invention.

The present invention is to avoid the occurrence of the Domino Effectand dissolve the conventional problem properly, without excluding a flownaturally to be targeted for a shortcut from the object for a shortcut,in an MPOA communication. The feature of the present invention is thatan MPC is provided with a function of transmitting the source layer 3address of a data packet targeted for a shortcut, which is included inan extension portion of an MPOA address resolution request packet, to anMPS, and that the MPS detects an address resolution request from theremotest MPC on a network and makes valid only the above addressresolution request and invalid the address resolution requests from theother MPCs, according to the information such as “destination layer 3address”, “source layer 3 address”, and “hop count value” in the aboveMPOA address resolution request packet.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 isa block diagram showing the structure of an MPC 10 according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagramshowing the structure of an MPS 20 according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the MPC 10 of this embodiment comprises a shortcutcommunication control unit 11, an MPOA packet processing unit 12 forMPC, a source layer 3 address extending unit 13, and an MPOA packettransmitting unit 14 for MPC. The shortcut communication control unit11, the source layer 3 address extending unit 13, and the MPOA packettransmitting unit 14 for MPC are respectively connected to the MPOApacket processing unit 12 for MPC. The MPOA packet transmitting unit 14for MPC is connected to an outside ATM switch.

With reference to FIG. 2, the MPS 20 of this embodiment comprises anMPOA packet receiving unit 21 for MPS, an MPOA packet processing unit 22for MPS, a management information preserving unit 23, and an MPOA packettransmitting unit 24 for MPS. The MPOA packet receiving unit 21 for MPS,the management information preserving unit 23, and the MPOA packettransmitting unit 24 for MPS are respectively connected to the MPOApacket processing unit 22. The MPOA packet receiving unit 21 for MPS andthe MPOA packet transmitting unit 24 for MPS are respectively connectedto outside ATM switches.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show only the portion realizing the function of thisembodiment, and a description of the other functions forming the MPS 20and the MPC 10 is omitted.

The operation of this embodiment will be described in detail, referringto the drawings. FIG. 4 is a flow chart for use in describing theoperation of the MPC 10 according to the embodiment, and FIG. 5 is aflow chart for use in describing the operation of the MPS 20 accordingto the embodiment. In the following description, by way of example, IPis used as the layer 3 protocol, but in the present invention, theprotocol is not restricted to IP.

Referring to FIG. 4, in the operation of the MPC 10 of the embodiment,the shortcut communication control unit 11 starts the operation upondetection of a flow and transmits an instruction “start a shortcutcommunication” to the MPOA packet processing unit 12 for MPC. Thisinstruction includes the source IP address and the destination IPaddress of the data targeted for a shortcut communication (Step 401).

The MPOA packet processing unit 12 for MPC passes the above source IPaddress to the source layer 3 address extending unit 13. The sourcelayer 3 address extending unit 13 creates an MPOA packet extensionincluding the source IP address and notifies it to the MPOA packetprocessing unit 12 for MPC (Step 402).

The MPOA packet processing unit 12 for MPC creates an MPOA addressresolution request packet based on the above destination IP address,adds the MPOA packet extension to the MPOA address resolution requestpacket, and passes it to the MPOA packet transmitting unit 14 for MPC(Step 403).

The MPOA packet transmitting unit 14 for MPC transmits the MPOA addressresolution request packet to the MPS (Step 404), thereby completing theprocessing by the MPC 10.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a format of the MPOA packetextension for preserving the source IP address, according to theembodiment. In the example of FIG. 3, “vendor private extension” of anMPOA packet is used. Each field will be described as below. The value isdecimal, unless otherwise specified.

The value “0” is specified in the C field 30 and the u field 31.

The value “8” indicating that this is the “vendor private extension” isspecified in the Type field 32.

In the Length field 33, the length from the Vendor ID field 34 to theData Source Protocol Address field 38 is specified by octet.

The number for identifying the vendor who has defined this vendorprivate extension is specified in the Vendor ID field 34. For example,“119” indicating “NEC Corporation” is specified there.

In the Sub ID field 35, a proper value is determined and specified inorder to distinguish a different project and model within the samevendor.

In the Sub Type field 36, a function of this vendor private extension isspecified. For example, “1” is specified as a value indicating that itis the “source layer 3 address extension”, and the like.

In the DSPA Len field 37, the length of the source layer 3 address to bestored in the Data Source Protocol Address field 38 is specified byoctet.

In the Data Source Protocol Address field 38, the source layer 3 addressis specified.

The MPC 10 of the embodiment performs the same operation as that of theconventional MPC, except for the above-mentioned operation of adding thesource IP address of the data targeted for a shortcut communication tothe MPOA address resolution request packet.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the operation of the MPS 20 of the embodiment,the MPOA packet receiving unit 21 for MPS starts the operation uponreceipt of an MPOA packet from the MPC 10, and passes the received MPOApacket to the MPOA packet processing unit 22 for MPS (Step 501).

The MPOA packet processing unit 22 for MPS determines the type of theabove MPOA packet (Step 502). When it is not the type of the MPOAaddress resolution request, the same processing as that of theconventional MPS is performed (Step 515), thereby completing theprocessing.

When it is the type of the MPOA address resolution request, the MPOApacket processing unit 22 for MPS determines whether this MPS itself isthe egress MPS or not (Step 503). When it is not the egress MPS, thesame processing as that of the conventional MPS is performed (Step 515),thereby completing the processing of the MPS 20.

When this MPS itself is the egress MPS, the MPOA packet processing unit22 for MPS determines whether the source layer 3 address extension isadded to the MPOA address resolution request packet (Step 504). When thesource layer 3 address extension is not added there, the same processingas that of the conventional MPS is performed (Step 515), therebycompleting the processing of the MPS 20.

When the source layer 3 address extension is added to the MPOA addressresolution request packet, the MPOA packet processing unit 22 for MPStakes out the destination IP address, the source IP address, the ATMaddress of the MPC, and the hop count value from the above MPOA addressresolution request packet (Step 505).

The MPOA packet processing unit 22 for MPS searches the destination IPaddress, the source IP address, and the ATM address of the correspondingMPC for the management information preserved in the managementinformation preserving unit 23 (Step 506), and determines whether thereexists an entry matched with the destination IP address (Step 507). Whenthere exists no entry matched with the destination IP address, the unit22 creates a new entry corresponding to the MPOA address resolutionrequest packet within the management information preserving unit 23(Step 512), and performs the processing of the conventional MPS as theegress MPS (Step 513), thereby completing the processing of the MPS 20.

When there exists an entry matched with the destination IP address, theunit 22 further determines whether there exists an entry matched withthe source IP address, in the above entry matched with the destinationIP address (Step 508). When there exists no entry matched with thesource IP address, the unit 22 creates a new entry corresponding to theMPOA address resolution request packet within the management informationpreserving unit 23 (Step 512), and performs the processing of theconventional MPS as the egress MPS (Step 513), thereby completing theprocessing of the MPS 20.

When there exists an entry matched with the source IP address, the unit22 determines whether this entry matched with the destination IP addressand the source IP address is matched with the ATM address of the MPC(Step 509). When the entry is matched with the ATM address of the MPC,the unit 22 performs the processing of the conventional MPS as theegress MPS on the above entry (Step 513), thereby completing theprocessing of the MPS 20.

When the entry is not matched with the ATM address of the MPC, the unit22 compares this hop count value (hereinafter, referred to as HC-a) withthe hop count value preserved in the entry (hereinafter, referred to asHC-b) (Step 510). Since the hop count value of the MPOA addressresolution request packet is subtracted one by one in each MPS at everytransfer to the MPS of the next hop, it proves that an MPOA addressresolution request packet having the smaller hop count value comes fromthe remoter MPS. When HC-a is not smaller than HC-b, a reply packet tothe effect of address resolution impossible (NAK) is returned to the MPC(Step 514), in reply to the MPOA address resolution request packet,thereby completing the processing of the MPS 20.

When HC-a is smaller than HC-b, the MPOA packet processing unit 22 forMPS performs the processing of deleting the entry from the managementinformation preserving unit 23 (Step 511). This delete processing is thesame as the delete processing of the conventional egress MPS, and itincludes the operation of returning the NAK or an MPOA addressresolution result purge request packet to the MPC corresponding to theentry, depending on the state of the entry.

The MPOA packet processing unit 22 for MPS creates a new entrycorresponding to the MPOA address resolution request packet within themanagement information preserving unit 23 (Step 512), and performs theprocessing of the conventional MPS as the egress MPS (Step 513), therebycompleting the processing of the MPS 20.

The MPS 20 of the embodiment performs the same operation as that of theconventional MPS, except for the above-mentioned operation as the egressMPS.

The effective operation of the MPOA system of the embodiment will bedescribed by taking the following concrete operation as an example, bycomparison with the conventional MPOA system.

A first example of the concrete operation will be described, accordingto FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. In this example, MPCs are respectively provided inthe host 510 and the host 550 and pairs of MPS and MPC are respectivelyprovided in the router 520, the router 530, and the router 540.

In FIG. 6, it is assumed that the host 510 starts to transmit IP packetstoward the host 550 continuously. Since the MPC 511 detects a flowtoward the host 550, the MPC 511 starts an operation of establishing ashortcut VCC toward the host 550. At the same time, since the MPC 521and the MPC 531 respectively detect a flow toward the host 550, theyalso start the respective operations of establishing a shortcut VCCtoward the host 550.

In the MPS 542 that is the egress MPS, since the hop count value of theMPOA address resolution request packet from the MPC 511 is smaller thanthe other hop count values of the MPOA address resolution requestpackets from the other MPCs, only the MPOA address resolution requestpacket from the MPC 511 is regarded as valid.

Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 7, a shortcut VCC toward the host550 is not established from the router 520 nor the router 530, but it isestablished only from the host 510.

In the case of the first example of the concrete operation, the MPOAsystem of the embodiment can establish only a necessary shortcut VCC,though a conventional MPOA system would establish redundant shortcutVCCs toward the host 550 respectively from the router 520 and the router530.

A second example of the concrete operation will be described, accordingto FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. In the second example, an MPC is provided only inthe host 550, but not in the host 510, and pairs of MPS and MPC arerespectively provided in the router 520, the router 530, and the router540.

In FIG. 8, it is assumed that the host 510 starts to transmit IP packetsto the host 550 continuously. Since the host 510 is not provided withthe MPC, the host 510 does not perform the shortcut operation, butinstead, the MPC 521 detects a flow toward the host 550 and the MPC 521starts the operation of establishing a shortcut VCC toward the host 550.At the same time, the MPC 531 detects a flow toward the host 550 and theMPC 531 also starts the operation of establishing a shortcut VCC towardthe host 550.

In the MPS 542 that is the egress MPS, since the hop count value of theMPOA address resolution request packet from the MPC 521 is smaller thanthe other hop count value of the MPOA address resolution request packetfrom the other MPC, only the MPOA address resolution request packet fromthe MPC 521 is regarded as valid.

Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 9, a shortcut VCC toward the host550 is not established from the router 530, but it is established onlyfrom the router 520.

In the case of the second example of the concrete operation, aconventional MPOA system would establish a redundant shortcut VCC fromthe router 530 toward the host 550. Further, if using the method ofavoiding the Domino Effect of the conventional MPOA system, it cannotestablish a shortcut VCC from the router 520 to the host 550, althoughit can avoid establishment of a shortcut VCC from the router 530 to thehost 550.

The MPOA system of the embodiment, however, can establish only anecessary shortcut VCC, so to control a shortcut communication properly.

A third example of the concrete operation will be described, based onFIG. 10 and FIG. 11. In the third example, MPCs are respectivelyprovided in the host 510 and the host 550, and pairs of MPS and MPC arerespectively provided in the router 520, the router 530, and the router540, but no MPC is provided in a host 560.

In FIG. 10, it is assumed that the host 510 starts to transmit IPpackets toward the host 550 continuously, and in parallel, the host 560starts to transmit the data toward the host 550 continuously. Here, thedata transmission from the respective host 510 and host 560 need not besimultaneous.

Since the MPC 511 detects a flow toward the host 550, the MPC 511 startsan operation of establishing a shortcut VCC toward the host 550. At thesame time, since the MPC 521 and the MPC 531 respectively detect a flowtoward the host 550, they start the respective operations ofestablishing a shortcut VCC toward the host 550.

In parallel, in the example of FIG. 10, since the host 560 is providedwith no MPC, it does not perform the shortcut operation. Instead, sincethe MPC 521 and the MPC 531 respectively detect a flow toward the host550, they start the respective operations of establishing a shortcut VCCtoward the host 550.

In the MPS 542 that is the egress MPS, as for the flow from the host 510to the host 550, since the hop count value of the MPOA addressresolution request packet from the MPC 511 is smaller than the other hopcount values of the MPOA address resolution request packets from theother MPCs, only the MPOA address resolution request packet from the MPC511 is regarded as valid.

Further, as for the flow from the host 560 to the host 550, since thehop count value of the MPOA address resolution request packet from theMPC 521 is smaller than the other hop count value of the MPOA addressresolution request packet from the other MPC, only the MPOA addressresolution request packet from the MPC 521 is regarded as valid.

Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 11, a shortcut VCC from the host 510to the host 550 and a shortcut VCC from the router 520 to the host 550are both established.

In the case of the third example of the concrete operation, aconventional MPOA system would establish a redundant shortcut VCC fromthe router 530 to the host 550. Further, if using the method of avoidingthe Domino Effect of the conventional MPOA system, as for a flow fromthe host 560 to the host 550, it cannot establish a shortcut VCC fromthe router 520 to the host 550, although it can avoid establishment ofthe shortcut VCC from the router 530 to the host 550.

The MPOA system of the embodiment, however, can establish only anecessary shortcut VCC, so to control a shortcut communication properly.

The MPOA system of the embodiment need not be always provided with theMPS and MPC of the embodiment in all the communication nodes, but it isoperable also in the case where there are the conventional MPS and MPCin a mixed way within a communication network. Namely, the MPS and MPCof the embodiment are compatible with the conventional MPS and MPC. Evenwhen the MPC of the embodiment transmits an MPOA address resolutionrequest packet including the source IP address to the conventional MPS,the same conventional MPS can process the received MPOA addressresolution request packet without any problem.

This is because the MPOA system of the embodiment adopts a method ofpreserving the source IP address in an extension portion of an MPOApacket and the conventional MPS which does not have a function ofprocessing the extension portion of the MPOA packet processes the samepacket as an ordinal MPOA packet, neglecting its extension portion (Cfield is defined as “0”).

Further, in the case where there are the conventional MPSs having nofunction of the present invention on a communication channel in a mixedway, though there may occur the Domino Effect similarly to theconventional technique and a failure in proper establishment of ashortcut VCC, a proper communication can be performed without the abovefailure in each communication node having the function of the presentinvention on the communication channel. Therefore, the present inventioncan restrain the possibility and scale of causing the above failure,compared with the conventional MPOA system where every communicationnode never has the function of the present invention.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described, thistime.

Although the MPC of the present invention adopts the “vendor privateextension” of the MPOA packet in the first embodiment, as a method ofadding a source IP address to an MPOA address resolution request packet,it is not restricted to this method, but, for example, “source layer 3address extension” may be newly defined as a normal extension portion ofthe MPOA and the source IP address may be added to the MPOA addressresolution request packet.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a format where “the source layer3 address extension” is newly defined as a normal extension portion ofthe MPOA, in order to add the source IP address to the MPOA addressresolution request packet. Hereinafter, each field in the example ofFIG. 12 will be described. The value is decimal, unless otherwisespecified.

The value “0” is specified in the C field 40 and the u field 41.

The value for indicating that this extension portion is “source layer 3address extension” is specified in the Type field 42 (for example,“100F” in hexadecimal).

In the Length field 43, the length from the DSPA Len field 44 to theData Source Protocol Address field 46 is specified by octet.

In the DSPA Len field 44, the length of the source layer 3 address to bestored in the Data Source Protocol Address field 46 is specified byoctet.

The value “0” is specified in the unused field 45.

In the Data Source Protocol Address field 46, the source layer 3 addressis specified.

The values and the field names of a packet taken as an example in theabove embodiments and examples of the present invention are notrestricted to the above, but the other values and names may be used.

It is needless to say that, in the MPOA system of the above embodiments,the functions of the shortcut communication control unit 11, the MPOApacket processing unit 12 for MPC, the source layer 3 address extendingunit 13, and the MPOA packet transmitting unit 14 for MPC in the MPC 10,the functions of the MPOA packet receiving unit 21 for MPS, the MPOApacket processing unit 22 for MPS, the management information preservingunit 23, and the MPOA packet transmitting unit 24 for MPS in the MPS 20,and the other functions can be realized by hardware. Further, the MPOAsystem can be realized by loading a shortcut communication controlprogram that is a computer program having the above functions, into amemory of a computer processor. The shortcut communication controlprogram is stored in storing mediums 80 and 90 such as a magnetic disk,a semiconductor memory, and the like. It is loaded from the storingmedium into the computer processor so to control the operation of thecomputer processor, thereby realizing the above-mentioned functions.

Thus, the present invention can be realized by software, firmware, aswell as hardware.

While the preferred embodiments and examples of the present inventionhave been described, the present invention is not restricted to theabove embodiments and examples, but various modifications are possiblewithin the scope and spirit of the invention.

As mentioned above, the MPOA system of the present invention can achievethe following effects.

First, the MPOA system of the present invention can avoid the DominoEffect in the MPOA system. This is because the MPC transmitting an MPOAaddress resolution request packet adds a source layer 3 address to theextension portion of the MPOA address resolution request packet andtherefore the egress MPS can understand the source layer 3 address,thereby to specify each address resolution request from a plurality ofnodes for the corresponding source layer 3 address and destination layer3 address.

Second, the MPOA system of the present invention can be compatible witha communication by the conventional MPOA system which does not have afunction of the present invention. This is because the source layer 3address added to the MPOA address resolution request packet transmittedby the MPC of the MPOA system according to the present invention isadded to the extension portion of the MPOA packet and therefore, even ifthe MPC of the other MPOA system which does not have the function of thepresent invention receives the MPOA address resolution request packet,there is no problem.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described with respectto exemplary embodiment thereof, it should be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes,omissions and additions may be made therein and thereto, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore,the present invention should not be understood as limited to thespecific embodiment set out above but to include all possibleembodiments which can be embodies within a scope encompassed andequivalents thereof with respect to the feature set out in the appendedclaims.

1. A device comprising: a receiver to receive a plurality of resolution request packets from a plurality of communication nodes, respectively, to establish a shortcut virtual channel connection (VCC) from one of the communication nodes to a destination node for a flow of data packets, where each of the plurality of resolution request packets comprises information indicative of a hop count between the respective communication node and the destination node; and at least one processor to establish the shortcut VCC between the destination node and one of the plurality of communication nodes most remote from the destination node based on the information indicative of the hop count, where each of the plurality of communication nodes and said destination node comprises a client, and each of at least two of the communication nodes comprise a server, and where the at least one processor is further to: add, in each of said clients, data about layer 3 source address associated with said data packets to a plurality of address resolution request packets that are transmitted from the plurality of communication nodes in the network, transmit, in each of said clients, said address resolution packet to one of either the destination node or a next communication node, of the plurality of communication nodes toward said destination node, accept, in each of said servers, at least one of said address resolution request packets transmitted, when the server is an egress server, detect, in each of said clients, said address resolution request packets according to the data about said layer 3 source address and a layer 3 destination address indicated in said respective address resolution request packets, detect, in each of said servers, said address resolution request packet from a client, of the clients, of the one of said plurality of communication nodes most remote from said destination on said network according to hop count values indicated in said address resolution request packets, and establish the shortcut VCC in response to validating said detected address resolution request.
 2. The device of claim 1, where the at least one processor is further to establish the shortcut VCC only between the destination node and the one of the plurality of communication nodes most remote from the destination node.
 3. The device of claim 1, where each of the plurality of resolution request packets comprises information indicative of a network layer source address of the respective communication node.
 4. The device of claim 3, where the processor establishes the shortcut VCC based on the information indicative of the network layer source address of the respective communication nodes.
 5. The device of claim 4, where the plurality of resolution request packets are multi-protocol over asynchronous transfer mode (MPOA) packets.
 6. The device of claim 1, where the at least one processor is further to detect a new flow of data packets and generate a new resolution request packet to establish a new shortcut VCC to a new destination node.
 7. The device of claim 1, where the device comprises the destination node.
 8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer executable instructions executed by at least one processor to perform a method for controlling shortcut communication, the computer-readable medium comprising: one or more instructions for adding data about a layer 3 source address associated with a flow of data packets to a plurality of address resolution request packets that are transmitted from a plurality of communication nodes in the network, respectively, to a destination of said flow of data packets in order to establish a shortcut virtual channel connection (VCC) toward said destination of said flow of data packets, and one or more instructions for establishing a shortcut VCC between said destination and one of said plurality of communication nodes most remote from said destination node on said network according to information indicative of hop count values in said address resolution request packets, where each of the plurality of communication nodes and said destination node comprises a client, and each of at least two of the communication nodes comprise a server, and where the computer-readable medium further comprises: one or more instructions for: adding, in each of said clients, the data about said layer 3 source address of said data packets to said address resolution request packets, and transmitting, in each of said clients, said address resolution packet to one of either the destination node or a next communication node, of the plurality of communications nodes, toward said destination node; one or more instructions for: accepting, in each of said servers, at least one of said address resolution request packets transmitted, and when the server is an egress server, detecting, in each of said clients, said address resolution request packets according to the data about said layer 3 source address and a layer 3 destination address indicated in said respective address resolution request packets; and one or more instructions for: detecting, in each of said servers, said address resolution request packet from a client, of the clients, of the one of said plurality of communication nodes most remote from said destination on said network according to hop count values indicated in said address resolution request packets, and establishing the shortcut VCC in response to controlling shortcut communication to validate said detected address resolution request.
 9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 8, further comprising: one or more instructions for determining that one of said address resolution request packets is associated with the flow of data packets according to the data about said layer 3 source address and a layer 3 destination address indicated in the one of said address resolution request packets.
 10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 9, further comprising: one or more instructions for establishing said shortcut VCC only between said node and the one of said plurality of communication nodes most remote from said destination node.
 11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 8, further comprising: one or more instructions for adding the data about said layer 3 source address of said data packets to said address resolution request packet by using a vendor private extension of a multi-protocol over asynchronous transfer mode (MPOA) packet.
 12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 11, further comprising: one or more instructions for: defining a layer 3 source address extension as an extension portion of said MPOA packet, in said address resolution request packet, and adding the data about said layer 3 source address of said data packets to said address resolution request packet by using said layer 3 source address extension. 